A Dublin county footballer is facing trial accused of assaulting a player during a GAA match.

Cormac Costello, 25, with an address at Lorcan Crescent in Santry, Dublin, faces a charge of assault causing harm to Naomh Mearnog Gaelic footballer Aodan Fee on July 6 last year.

It allegedly happened when Mr Costello was a spectator at a game at Naomh Mearnog’s pitch in Portmarnock, in north Co. Dublin.

The All-Ireland star had been charged in recent weeks and his case was listed before Dublin District Court yesterday/today (MON).

However, the All-Ireland star did not have to attend due to the impact of covid-19 on the operation of the courts.

Judge John Cheatle was furnished with a certificate with the details of arrest and the charging procedure.

He was also told that the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed summary disposal, meaning the case should be dealt with at district court level, and not in the circuit court which has tougher sentencing powers.

However, he deferred ruling on the issue of jurisdiction.

The court’s presenting sergeant had made enquiries and was informed some medical reports were still awaited.

Defence solicitor Robert Purcell said his client had been charged at a city-centre station and but the incident allegedly happened in Portmarnock.

Judge Cheatle adjourned the case to Swords District Court on September 14 next when the case will be listed for mention.

He noted that the trial venue has yet to be decided, the medical report was outstanding and he excused the accused from appearing on the next date.

Judge Cheatle acceded to a request from Mr Purcell to make an order for disclosure of video evidence, statements and medical reports.

Mr Costello has not yet indicated how he will plead.

A DUBLIN gaelic footballer accused of assaulting a player during a match has been remanded on continuing bail.

ormac Costello (25), who was a spectator at a game when he allegedly struck the player, had the case against him adjourned in his absence at Dublin District Court.

Mr Costello, a key member of the county’s five-in-a-row winning team, was excused from attending court today amid ongoing restrictions due to the Covid-19 crisis.

The accused, with an address at Lorcan Crescent in Santry, is charged with assault causing harm to Aodan Fee at Naomh Mearnog GAA in Portmarnock on July 6 last year.

This afternoon, a garda sergeant handed evidence of Mr Costello’s arrest charge and caution in to court by certificate. She said she had served the accused’s solicitor with a written outline of the prosecution’s evidence.

The sergeant said the DPP had directed summary disposal of the case at district court level, subject to a judge considering the issue of jurisdiction. She said she was making enquiries to see if there was a medical report available.

Judge John Cheatle asked why the case was listed for Dublin District Court instead of Swords and Mr Robert Purcell said the alleged incident took place in Portmarnock but the accused had been charged in a city station.

Judge Cheatle adjourned the case to Swords District Court in September 14, for mention only, noting that the issue of jurisdiction was outstanding and a medical report awaited. Mr Costello was excused from attending.

Mr Purcell asked the judge to make a full disclosure order, to include video footage and statements.

The charge against Mr Costello is contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment on conviction on indictment.

The accused, who is the son of the county board’s CEO John Costello, was granted bail at Coolock Garda Station after he was charged there earlier this month.

He met gardai by appointment as part of the investigation into the alleged one-punch assault during the club match last July.

It is understood Mr Costello was in the crowd and not involved on the pitch during the Division 2 AFL game between his club Whitehall Colmcille and hosts Naomh Mearnog.

The game, a Saturday evening fixture on July 6, was being played in Portmarnock.

During the second-half an altercation occurred and a Naomh Mearnog player was allegedly punched once in the face.

The alleged victim suffered a cut lip and was bleeding.

He was treated for his injuries and a complaint was later made to gardai who launched an investigation into the incident.

It’s understood that as part of the inquiry gardai have also reviewed camera footage of the game.

Cormac Costello has won five All-Ireland Senior Football Championships with Dublin as well as seven Leinster titles and five National Football Leagues.

He was also a member of the All-Ireland winning U-21 team in 2014.

In his second senior football championship final he came off the bench against Mayo, scoring three points and playing a central role as Dublin claimed the Sam Maguire in the 2016 replay.

Online Editors

A key member of Dublin’s five-in-a-row winning All-Ireland team will appear in court next week in relation to an alleged assault during a GAA match.

The Irish Independent can reveal that star forward Cormac Costello faces a single count of assault causing harm after being station charged over the weekend.

The footballer was a spectator during a game last year when he allegedly struck a player in the face.

A Dublin man has been remanded in custody after he was charged with the murder of Vincent Ryan during a shooting in Dublin two years ago. 

Mr Ryan, a 25-year-old father, was shot dead while sitting in his car on McKee Road in Finglas on 29 February 2016.

Dressed in a navy tracksuit, Paul O’Beirne, 35, with an address at Colepark Drive, Ballyfermot, sat silently with his arms folded during his hearing before Judge Victor Blake at Dublin District Court. 

Detective Sergeant Gavin Ross of Finglas station told the court that the accused was arrested at his home this afternoon on foot of a warrant issued by the district court. 

He said Mr O’Beirne was taken to Ballyfermot Garda station where he was charged.

The court heard he was handed a copy of the charge and in reply after caution said: “Nothing got to do with me at all.”

Detective Sergeant Ross confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that Mr O’Beirne is to face trial on indictment in the Central Criminal Court. 

Bail in murder cases can only be granted in the High Court. 

Mr O’Beirne- who was granted legal aid- was remanded in custody to appear via video-link at Cloverhill District Court next Friday. 

Judge Blake adjourned the case for mention until 16 March for a book of evidence to be prepared.